I GUESS this is sort of a hybrid post; I'm mating an opinion with a question.

I remember, back in the 'sixties, when model rocketry opened all sorts of fascinating possibilities to my callow little imagination. It seemed to charge off in so many different directions. There were 3FNC rockets, sure. But there were so many other things; all manner of boost gliders, fantastic exotic models, helicopter-recovered rockets, parallel-staged rockets. You name it, and some club had it refined unto the third generation.

With the Winter building season in full swing for most rocketeers across North America, this is the time of sawdust, sandpaper and epoxied fingertips. Tucked away in basements, garages and spare bedrooms, rocketry enthusiasts are busy preparing and/or repairing their fleet for the first touch of green that signals the Spring flying season is officially back open.

Many rocketeers are using altimeters for recovery system control. Some are also watching their rocket whistle down from apogee to go splat. What went wrong? The answer could be one or more of a number of possibilities. This article lists ways to prevent problems, describes possible failures and troubleshooting steps for when trouble pays a visit. Many of the recommendations also apply to accelerometer and timer recovery control systems.

When I found out about high power rocketry, I decided to build some of the rockets that had made such an impression on me as a kid, when getting to orbit was still a fantasy. My first non-kit high power rocket was a 1/8 scale Viking 7.

The AeroTech RMS/Hybrid motor system has been available since November of 1995, when it was first certified by Tripoli Motor Testing. My first interest in the hybrid began over a year before I finally made the decision to try one out. While considering a purchase, I found little information about the hybrid system.

Often, losing a rocket is a reality for those who fly next to farming crops like soy, corn, alfalfa, etc. An audible beeper may be just the ticket for helping locate your missing rocket should it be gobbled up by the rocket gods hiding in a farmer's field. The following article was designed to help you build an inexpensive audible beeper so you could avoid that from happening to you.

This Tech Series article covers building a beefed-up EZI-65, capable of use for level 1 and level 2 certification. We're going to start with a LOC/Precision EZI-65 kit and make it level-2 worthy by using stronger building techniques and adding a retro-fitted electronics bay for dual-deployment designed by Darrell Mobley. Join us and build a super-strong rocket and certify in style with advanced high-power construction techniques and recovery electronics!

This chapter is based on an actual application of an electronics bay in a 7.67" Terrier booster from my 2/5 scale Terrier Sandhawk. The bay is located between the upper and middle motor mount tube centering rings. This is an ideal location for single stage deployment and/or outboard motor ignition hardware placement. Carefully layout your wiring diagram before you begin construction -- it will help you make changes before the final process is over.